Burbank, California – August 19, 2009 — The Walt Disney Studios is jumping on the D23 Expo bandwagon with four-days (September 10-13) of exciting programming that includes major overviews of upcoming films by Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook and Disney-Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, plus a full schedule of events spotlighting new releases and newly restored digital versions of classic favorites.

Cook will present exclusive sneak peeks at such highly anticipated Disney features as “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” “Old Dogs” (with Robin Williams and John Travolta), “Prince of Persia” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (both from producer Jerry Bruckheimer), “Tron: Legacy,” plus updates on many more exciting projects. Lasseter will discuss and show materials from such upcoming Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ motion pictures as “The Princess and the Frog,” “Rapunzel,” “Toy Story 3,” etc. Both presentations will be held at The Anaheim Convention Center in a 4000-seat arena.

Disney Family Movies offers the ultimate in family entertainment from one of the world’s largest film libraries, giving customers unlimited access to a selection of classic and contemporary films and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney Family Movies is entertainment the whole family can enjoy together from beloved hits to new popular favorites. Each title remains in rotation for about a month, with new movies added weekly.

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 — Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas and Nick Jonas of the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band, Jonas Brothers, today announced they would team up with Hollywood Records to release Fashionably Late, the debut album from one of this summer’s hottest new band, Honor Society (www.myspace.com/honorsociety). Co-Written and Co-Produced by Honor Society and John Fields, and Executive Produced by Jonas Brothers, Fashionably Late is due for release on September 15, 2009. Honor Society is signed to a new “joint venture” record label to be owned by Jonas Brothers and Hollywood Records.

“Hollywood Records has been an incredible partner for us as a band,” say the Jonas Brothers. “Working with exciting new talent and producing music for them is a natural evolution in our careers and we couldn’t be more excited to have our friends from Honor Society be one of the first artists we will help launch.”

Added Disney Music Group Chairman Bob Cavallo, “We are delighted to form this label with the Jonas Brothers. Kevin, Joe and Nick have a keen ability to find and nurture talent, even guiding them through the studio as songwriters and producers. Their talents are truly impressive.”

Honor Society’s infectious new summer song and their first official single, “Where Are You Now,” was released on July 21. The single is taken from the soundtrack to the upcoming film, BANDSLAM (Summit Entertainment and Walden Media) starring Aly Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelen Connell and Lisa Kudrow which premieres in theatres on August 14. See link below to watch the video for “Where Are You Now.”

D23 has just published the following guidelines for Expo attendees wishing to attend the event in costume/Cosplay: All event attendees — including adults — may attend the D23 Expo in costume dressed as their favorite Disney Character.

A few additional announcements surrounding the D23 Expo made yesterday:

– The Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) detailed its plans for the Expo, which includes The ABCs of Disney we first reported almost a week ago. You can see the details announced here.

– On that token, the screening/presentation of Prep & Landing has been scheduled to take place on Saturday at 5:30 PM in the ‘Walt Disney Studios Theater’

– As you probably are already aware, while the floor opens daily at 9 AM, D23 members have access to the floor beginning an hour earlier at 8 AM. It has been clarified that only one D23 membership per family is required for the entire group to get in at 8 AM.

BURBANK, Calif. — Disney Interactive Studios announced today that Spectrobes: Origins, the third installment of Disney’s popular monster battle video game franchise, is now available across North America exclusively for the Wii™ system from Nintendo.

Spectrobes: Origins lets players control interplanetary patrol officers Rallen or Jeena in the first Wii installment for Disney’s top-selling Spectrobes franchise. Players will find, train and command more than 100 mysterious Spectrobes, while unlocking their unique powers in order to save the galaxy. Spectrobes: Origins features exciting two-player cooperative play made specifically for Wii that allows players to team up and battle together; an all new 3-D fossil excavation mode; and special collectible code input cards that provide secret codes to unlock hidden items and new creatures.

“Spectrobes: Origins takes this popular franchise to the next level, giving fans a whole new experience on Wii,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “The opportunity to explore and battle through the Spectrobes universe on Wii makes Spectrobes: Origins a must-have for action/adventure and RPG fans of all ages.”

Spectrobes: Origins was named Runner-Up for Best Wii Role Playing Game in IGN’s Best of E3 2009 Awards.

August 18, 2009 — Celebrate with Disney On Ice and turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary one! Disney On Ice presents Celebrations! kicks off this fall as Feld Entertainment’s newest ice production featuring a magical montage of Disney characters celebrating holidays and festivals from around the world. Launching September 2009, Disney On Ice presents Celebrations! will be the first time audiences see Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, live on ice, from the upcoming film, Walt Disney Pictures’ The Princess and the Frog, opening November 25, 2009, in New York and Los Angeles, and nationwide on December 11.

Classic and contemporary Disney songs, an original storyline, brilliant costumes and high energy action will have audiences celebrating some of the world’s most popular events right in their hometown — from Halloween with the Disney Villains, to a Valentine’s Day Royal Ball, featuring the Disney Princesses. In a fun-packed, ice extravaganza, more than 50 characters from 16 Disney stories will converge and take audiences on a thrilling world tour to exotic destinations like Brazil for a Carnivale parade, Hawaii for a luau party and Japan for a Cherry Blossom festival.

“Disney On Ice presents Celebrations! gives families a reason to celebrate no matter what time of year it is,” says Producer Kenneth Feld. “This uplifting and unforgettable spectacle showcases different celebrations around the globe, and families will walk away remembering to celebrate the everyday joys and successes in their lives.”

“Audiences are going to love this colossal celebration,” says Producer Nicole Feld. “We take the most exciting holidays and special events and pack them into one monumental show. You can travel the world in style and experience all the fun and excitement with your favorite Disney characters, including the newest Disney Princess, Tiana.”

Disney has sent us these hi-res images of Tiana as she will appear at Walt Disney World beginning October 26 and Disneyland beginning November 6. These are from her appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention that took place earlier this month in Tampa, Florida.

When she appears in the parks, Tiana will be joined by Naveen and Dr. Facilier.

Click on any of the thumbnails to see a larger version of the image. You can then click on the resize arrows in the lower right corner to view the original size.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 — The Walt Disney Company has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles in support of the organization’s Catastrophic Disaster Plan, a disaster preparedness project to feed and shelter 250,000 people following a major disaster, such as a large scale earthquake.

The Walt Disney Company’s donation aided the Red Cross in qualifying for a $1 million challenge grant. To date, the total committed donations to the Plan are nearly $5 million dollars.